Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-04
FRIDAY MORNING. MAR. 4. 1887

FRIDAY MORNING. MAR. 4. 1887.
A BUILDING FOR THE YOUNG
MEMS CHRISTIAN Assoc
CIATION.
If the presence in Stanton. last week,
of the State Convention of Young Mems
Christian Associations, was not in itself a
sufficient argument for providing the 7.
NC. A. of this city with fixed and sub
stantial habitation, many additional and
forcible ones were given in the admirable
address of Hon. J.. Taylor Ellyson of
Richmond, upon the Claims of the Asso-
with much force that if the new aphor
ism, s'The cities of our land are a me-
mace to civilization is true, then the most
important factor of that menace is the
young men of those cities. Some OF the
statistics bearing upon that factor are
startling to those unfamiliar with them
In one city whose population Is 10000, OF
whom 1000 are young men, only thirty
eight young men joined its churches dur
ing the year. In another city of 1900 int
habitants, with 5000 young men, one
fourth of its young men enter saloons be-
tween e,and 8 P. M. on Saturday. In
another city Of $4,000, with 81 Protestant
churches, only 105 young men out of the
5000 of such, joined those churches in a
year. In the Virginia city of Alexandria
which has 1900 young mea, only sixty
Joined all of its churches in year.
One explanation of this is that when
youth reaches the age and privileges of
young man. he has nowhere to go. He
has to great extent left the family circle
and is In great measure out in the
world. 1t is to the interest of the business
portion of the community that he should
have somewhere to go. 1t is from this
body of syoung men in every city, just
wavering between good habits and bad,
with neither permanently fixed in their
character, that the mercantile. manufac-
turing, and every other business interest
has to draw its assistants. A single even
ing often determines the remainder of the
life of the young. That evening spent in
the right way may give them clerks Of
steadlness, sobriety, integrity, and indus
try; spent the wrong way 1t may give
them-business men too well know what.
To know that young clerk spends his
off-time amid pure and elevating surround
ings is better guarantee to his employer
than the bond of Fidelity Guarantee
company. There is nothing that the bust
ness community recognizes quicker than
business advantage, and it is to this recog
milton that the buildings of the Y. M. g.
A. with which the cities of the land are
being dotted, are due. The Associations
themselves do not and cannot build them.
In Lynchburg, the business community
has presented the Association with a
building worth SIT 900; in Richmond. the
same class have given the Association
there building worth $42, 000-and, las we
recollect the list of subscribers published,
there were scores of names with whom
there was no religious feeling but simply
a business interest. In Norfolk, the same
class have given the Association home
worth $31, 1000, and in Alexandria the same
has been done. In the little town of Luray,
the citizens held meeting Tuesday night
and subscribed $4,000 to build home for
their Association.
However high religious motive may
be, it does not need one so high to animate
the business mind with desire to make
of the young men of city, moral, reli-
able, sterling citizens. When made so they
are money value to fireplace; when made
otherwise, by whatever temptations. they
are costly drain on the resources of the
community. The Young Mems Christian
ians Of the land have devised pa
ions with superior
temptations. They are building attractive
beaukful homes, with everything to tempt
young men into them and they have their
regular tempters out to catch these
young men. Compared with an evening
in these homes. ar evening in a saloon or
pool room Is ill favored and leaves bad
taste. Comparing the sort of young men
who spend the time at either place, the bu-
siness man in search of helper would ill.,
variably take the young fellow who spent
his time at the home. And with the
same motive the business man would inva-
riably prefer moral. sober. orderly popu-
lation of young men to chose his assistants
from, and grow up along with him in his
business, than from population which
was the reverse. 1t is to the business in
terest in every way that there should be
fixed home for the Association of this
town. A place where with the gymnasium,
health and strength may be gained; where
with the library the mind may be i'm
proved; where with the educational
classes those who have no other time for
tuition may get it. and where the minds
of the managers are always busy in devils
ing some innocent amusement for the
young men-would be beyond price to
town like ours.
We believe that it is now certain that
the Staunton Association Is to have such
home of it's own. Its members have for
now thirteen years borne the cost Of keep
inn If nm and thnU ora ahout fo